Cracker-cutting machine.



D. K. ALLISON 6: B. D. PINKNEY.

GBAOKER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) AUG.3,1912.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

D. K. ALLISON & B. D. PINKNBY.

GBACKEB. CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.3, 1912. 1 1 1 2, 1 84, Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

7 BKEETBSHEBT 2.

IWI/GIIfOFS M i M Wi'fnesaes $11,. WM 42% 40M D. K. ALLISON & B. D. PINKNEY.

ORADKER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION IILED AUG. 3, 1912.

1 1 1 2, 1 84. Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

W'vfrwsses Invemfor-s M M /{m D. K. ALLISON & B. D. PINKNEY.

URAOKEB CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 3, 1912.

1 1 1 2 1 84, Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

mt nesses 6440M 0b? 58 I D. K. ALLISON & B. D. PINKNEY.

CRAOKER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1912.

1 1 1 2, 1 84, Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

7 BHEETSSEEET 5.

Wifnegses flzm M D. K. ALLISON & B. D. PINKNEY. CRAUKER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION IILED AUG. 3, 1912.

1 1 1 2, 1 84. Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

7 BHBBTSSHBBT 6.

g i g 5 i Wiruesses In velaf l's D. K. ALLISON & B. D. PINKNEY. GRAGKER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.3,1912.

1 1 1 2, 1 84. Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

7 SHEETSBHEET 7.

s W 0 PW Wz'vne 5 66 s Ini/lafors QM A a/(MM /6 m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL K. ALLISON, F CINCINNATI, OHIO, AND BRYAN D. PINKNEY OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNORS TO THE J. H. DAY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CBACKER-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Application filed August 3, 1912. Serial No. 713,029.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DANIEL K. ALLISON, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, and BRYAN D. PINKNEY, residing at Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cracker-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that class of cracker cutting machines in which a vertically reciprocating cutting head provided with cutting dies operates upon a sheet of dough traveling beneath said cutter upon an endless apron and cuts the same into cracker blanks or forms and which after being so out are deposited onto pans carried by an endless conveyer and the objects of our invention are first :to provide a pan skipping device which will be positive in operation and register properly with the deposited crackers; second :to provide means for setting thepan conveyors backward or forward while the same are moving; third ;to provide means for timing the pan skip with respect to the deposit of crackers on the pans. We attain these objects by the mechanisms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure (1) is a sideelevation of our ma chine; Fig. (2) is a plan view of the same; Fig. (3) is horizontal section through the bevel gears 35, 36, 37, 47, 4:8, 49, and 60, 61, 62, and 63 and cooperating is a plan view of part 0 gears shown in Fig. (3), showing same connected to a handwheel; Fig. (5) is a section through shafts 25 and 13, showing the tumbler device in elevation; Fig. (6) is a partial view of gears 55 and 56, showing pan skipping device; Fig. (7) shows similar parts to Fig. (6); Fig. (8) also shows similar parts to Figs. 6 and l'; Fig. (9) shows chains 88 with pans 99 upon them, and also shows how the crackers are deposited thereon; Fig. (10) is similar to Fig. (9); Fig. (11) shows 3. velocity curve referred to in connection with the pan skip mechanism; Fig. (12) shows a partial plan view of two consecutive pans;

parts; Fig. (it) Fig. (13) is a similar view; Fig. also similar to Figs. (12) and (13).

The machine is mounted within the side frames 11. The crank shaft (2) is connected to any suitable cutter head by the eccentrics 33 and connecting rods 44. Securely keyed to crank shaft (2) is the sprocket wheel (5) which drives sprocket Wheel (6) by chain (7). Said sprocket Wheel (6) is securely keyed to transverse shaft (8) which is journaled in bearings (9) and (10). The bevel gear (11) is also keyed to said shaft (8) and meshes in and drives bevel gear 12) which is securely keyed to longitudinal shaft (13). Said shaft (13) is journaled in bearings (14) and (15), located in the cross frames (16) and (17). The tumbler device (18) is slidably mounted on said shaft (13) and carries the spur gears 19, 20, and 21. The gear (19) is splined to shaft (13) so that, by moving said tumbler device throughout the length of this shaft, the gear (19) will be driven at any position thereon. The tumbler device is provided with an arm (22). Slidably mounted in said arm (22) is a plunger This plunger is provided at its extreme end with the locking pin (24). The shaft (25) is journaled in the bearings (26) and (27). Keyed to this shaft are the cone gears 28 2930313233and 34. The tumbler device can be so moved as to mesh the gear 21 with any one of these cone gears and whatever gear it is meshing with the locking pin (24) will be inserted in a corresponding hole. The bevel gear is keyed to the end of shaft (25), and meshes in and drives bevel gear 36, which is preferably integral with bevel gear 37. Gears 36 and 37 are rotatably mounted upon transverse shaft 38, which said shaft is journaled in bearings 39 and 40 located in said side frames. The set collar 41 retains said gears in proper position. The worm wheel 42 is rotatably mounted upon said shaft 38, and provided with a suitable hub 43 and lugs 44-4-1 diametrically positioned and said hub and lugs carry the shafts 45 and 46. Rotatably mounted on shafts 45 and 46 are the bevel gears 47 and 48 both meshing with bevel gears 37 and 49. The bevel gear 49 is keyed to shaft 38. The spur gear 50 is keyed to said shaft 38 and meshes in and drives s ur gear 51 which is keyed to shaft 52. aid shaft 52 is journaled in bearings 53 and 54 located in said side frames 11. The spur pinion 55 is also keyed to shaft 52, and meshes in spur gear 56 which is keyed to shaft 57.

Normally gear 55 drives gear 56 but at one point during each rotation of said gear 56 it is driven by the arm 58 and roller 59 at a higher velocity. A full description of these gears will be given herein later. Bevel gear 60 is also keyed to shaft 57 and meshes 1n bevel gears 61 and 62 which in turn mesh in bevel gear 63 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 57. Said bevel gear 63 is provided with an extended hub 64 on which is keyed the sprocket wheel 65. Shaft 57 is journaled in bearings 66 and 67 located in said side frames 11. Bevel gears 61 and 62 are rotatably mounted upon shafts 68 and 69 respectively which are mounted in the worm wheel 70 in manner similar to gears 47 and 48, worm wheel.70 being similar to worm wheel 42. Worm wheel 70 meshes with worm 71 shown in Fig. (4). Worm 71 is keyed to shaft 72 which is journaled in an suitable bearings as 73 and 74 sup orte by the framework of the machine. evel gear 75 is keyed to said shaft 72, and meshes into bevel gear 76 which is keyed to shaft 77. Said shaft is journaled in bearin s 78 and 79. Hand wheel 80 is also keye to said shaft 77-. The worm 71, bevel gears and shafts driving same are left out of Fig. (2) in order not to obscure the' remaining parts. Worm wheel 42 is also driven by a worm similar to 71, bein connected to a hand wheel by shafts and %evel ears similar to that shown in Fig. (4 procket 'wheel drives sprocket w eel 81 by chain 87 which sprocket is keyed to and drives shaft 82, said shaft being journaled in bearings 83 and 84. Sprocket wheels 85 and 86 are also keyed to said shaft 82. Endless conveyer chains 88-88 are carried by sprocket wheels 85 and 86 at one end of the machine and by sprocket wheels 89 and 90 at the opposite end. Sprocket wheels 89 and 90 are mounted on shaft 91 which is journaled in suitable bearings located in the side frames. Said chains 88 are provided with projecting dogs 92 which are e ually spaced. The machine is provided wit an endless apron 93. By reference to Figs. (6), (7) and (8), the operation of pinion 55 and gear 56 maybe clearly set forth. During its normal actlon the gear teeth of the two gears Wlll intermesh but part of the teeth of the gear 56 are cut away as shown in the said figures. The gear55 drives gear 56 and when the last tooth is engaging as shown in Fig.

(6), the roller 59 is beginning to enter the cam race 94 which is formed by the cam plates 95 and 96 which are fastened to the side of said gear 56. Said roller 59 will new drive said gear 56 in the direction indicated by the arrow and in its course will approach nearer to the center of said gear 56, its line of travel being indicated b the dashed curved line 97. The velocity 0 said gear 56 is accelerated by the roller 59, until said roller has reached the position closest to the center of said gear 56 and afterward its velocity is retarded till the said roller leaves the cam race as shown in Fig. (8), when the gear teeth will come into mesh again. To illustrate the action of said roller and cam plates upon the velocity of said gear 56, we have shown in F i (11) a diagram, the longitudinal lines of which represent a development of one rotation of gear wheel 56 and the cross lines represent degrees of velocity. The heavy line represents the velocity of said gear during one rotation. At the edge of the diagram the velocity is normal being driven by the teeth of gear 55 and remains so till near the center of the diagram. Here it c rves u ward gradually. This occurs when fhe'rol er enters the cam race. The velocity increases till the curve reaches the highest point in the center of the diagram and from there on the velocity is retarded till the line drops to the normal velocity line. It will be noted that the velocity is accelerated gradually until the greatest velocit is reached and then retarded gradually t' 1 normal velocity is reached corresponding n smoothness to the curves in the velocity line. This smoothness of accelerated velocit is accomplished l iy the particular angle 0 the cam race 94.

he said cam race must be so positioned that a line drawn centrally through it will form an angle with a radial line of the gear 56 passing through the center of roller 59 and said angle will be on the side of said radial line opposite to the direction of travel of said roller 59.

The operation of the machine is as follows;-A sheet of dough is carried along on the apron 93 which is driven by power applied 1n any well known manner. The dough sheet is conveyed beneath the cutter which is actuated b the crank shaft 2. Power is applied to t is crank shaft in any well known manner and may come from the same source as that which drives the apron. The cutter cuts the dough sheet into cracker or biscuit forms and these are conveyed along on the agaron to the point marked 98 where the all off the apron onto pans beneath. ese pans are placed upon the conveyor chains 88-88 between the do s 92. The pans are designated by 99 in Tigs. (9) and (10). The cracker forms are designated by 100 in same figures.

The number of rows of crackers per pan varies with the size of the crackers. For example, standard bake pans will carry an average of fifteen rows of ordinary cracke'rs per pan. The number of rows will be more or less, above or below this number depending on-the size of the crackers. On this account, it is necessaryto reset the machine whenever a change is made in the sizeof crackers. This is done by the tumbler mechanism illustratedin Fig. (5) This mechanism is so arranged that a separate position of the tumbler bringing into operation separate gears causes the conveyer chains 88 to carry a pan the distance of a pans spacing (from center to center); while the cutter is making the desired number of cuts. For example, in setting the tumbler gears for fifteen crackers per pan the tumbler arm is moved to the proper position locking in mesh the proper gears. In this setting while the cutter is making fifteen reciprocations the conveyer chains 88 will move the distance between the dogs and thus carry the pans the desired distance to register exact y with the cutter. In changing from one size of cracker to another the change is made to best advantage while the machine is operating. Throwing out the tumbler gears causes the conveyer chains to stop and when thrown in again the pans will not register properlyl It is therefore necessary to move the chains 88 either for+ ward or backward. This is accom lished by turning the hand wheel 80 whilet e machine is running, in one direction to move the chains forward and in the opposite direction to move the chains backward. It will be noted that turning the hand-wheel 80 rotates the worm wheel 70. If this worm wheel is rotated in the direction the shaft 57 rotates it will accelerate the bevel gear 63 and thereby cause the chains 88 to be moved forward and if rotated in the o posite direction the bevel gear 63 will e retarded and thereby the chains will be set backward. It is desirable to have the dogs 92 of the chains 88-88 in the position shown in Fig. (9) when the roller 59 enters the cam race 94 of gear 56. Then as the last row of crackers are being deposited upon a pan the pan skip mechanism, (illustrated in Figs. (6), (7) and (8)) will begin to operate and cause the ans to jump so that the next row of crackers will be deposited on the following an as shown in Fig. (10). In order to be a le to adjust these chains 88-88, so that the dogs will come into the proper position when the pan skip operates, as shown in Fig. (9), the necessity of said hand wheel (80), the worm wheel and cooperating mechanism is apparent. The worm wheel 42 and its cooperating parts are used to change the time of the pan skip with relation to the cutter and the crackers on the apron. When the pan skip is timing properly with the cutter and crackers on the apron, the crackers will be deposited on two consecutive ans as shown in F ig. (12), leaving unif rm spaces between the rows of crackers and the ends of the pans. The arrows indicate the direction of travel of pans. If the crackers are deposited as shown in Fig. (13) this indicates that the pan skip is late in its operation in reference to time. By rotating the worm wheel 42 in one directlon the timing of the pan ski may be brought into proper register wit the cutter operations so that the crackers willbe de osited upon consecutive pans as shown in ig. (12). If the crackers are deposited upon the pans as indicated by Fig. (14) this indicates that the pan skip is too'early in its operation. This may be correctedfby turning the worm wheel 42 in the opposite direction. 1

It is apparent that to insure the proper deposit 0 crackers on two consecutive ans it is first necessary that the chains 88 ave their dogs 92 at the proper position with relation to the point of deposit of the crackers, when the pan skip operates. This condition is brought about by the worm wheel 70 and cooperating parts. Second, it is necessary that the pan skip device should operate at the proper time with relation to the cutter operations. These two functions are distinct and separate, although the means for acconiplishin them aresimilar in construction. AdJuSting either one of them in no way affects the other.

Having described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A pan carrier consisting of an endless conveyer, a pan skipping mechanism cooperating with said conveyer and means for setting said conveyer relatively forward or backward while in motion for the purpkoise of registering the pans with the pan s p.

2. A pan carrier consisting of an endless conveyer, a'pan skipping mechanism arranged to actuate said conveyer at certain intervals, means for driving said conveyer and manually operated means for accelerating or retarding the movement of said conveyer for the purpose of registering the pans with the pan skip.

3. In a cracker cutting machine having a reciprocating cutter, an endless conveyer for carrying pans through the machine, a pan-skipping mechanism for imparting accelerated motion to said endless conveyer and a gear mechanism for changing the time of the said accelerated motion with relation to the movement of the said reciprocating cutter, while the machine is in motion.

4. In a cracker cutting machine having change the time of the pan skip with relaa reciprocating cutter an endless conveyer tion to the operation of the said cutter.

f0! carrying pans through the machine, a K

pan skipping device arranged to actuate said eonveyer at certain intervals, means BRYAN PINKNEY' for driving said conveyer, and manuaiiiy Witnesses: operated means for accelerating or retar SAML WHITE, mg the movement of sald conveyer to NATHAN C. W. CHAPMAN.

M Copies of this patent may be obtained for Me cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 6."

4. In a cracker cutting machine having change the time of the pan skip with relaa reciprocating cutter an endless conveyer tion to the operation of the said cutter.

for carrying pans through the machine, a pan skipping device arranged to-actuate sald conyeyer at certain intervals, means for drivmg said conveyer, and manually operated means for accelerating or retardmg the movement of said conveyer to DANIEL K. ALLISON. BRYAN D. PINKNEY.

' Witnesses:

SAML WHITE, NATHAN'C. W. CHAPMAN.

copies of this patent may be obtained to: five cent: each, by addressing the Commissioner- 0t Patents,

Washington, D. 0."

v 131s cxlzrntintaElse.- 1,112,184.-Dan' iel K. Allison, Cincinnati; Ohio, and Bag 1m D. Pinkne'y, Newport, Ky. CRAOKER-CUTTING Maomnn. Patent dated September 29, 1914. Dis-- claimer filed May 7, 1917, by the assignee, The J. H. Day Company.

It makes the following disclaimer asto the said Letters Patentv Heretofofe cracker-cutting machines have been provided with pan-skipping I mechanism in which means are employed for setting the conveyer relatively forward or backward to register the pans with the'pan-skip, disconnecting the pan conveyer from its driving power and fronr-the pan-skipping mechanism 'as in the United States Letters Patent No. 1,180,030 to Thomas L. Green, issued AprillS, 1916; and therefore any interpretation of the claims which would include such a construction is disclaimed l [Oflic'ialGazetta May 15, 1917.]v

DISCLAIMER. l,112,18 1.Dan ieZ K. Allison, Cincinnati Ohio, and Bryan D. Pinkney, Newport, Ky. CRAOKER-CUTTING MACHINE. Patent dated September 29, 1914. Dieclaimer filed May 7, 1917, by the assignee, The J. H. Day Company.

It makes the following disclaimer as to the said Letters Patent Heretofore cracker-cutting machines have been provided with pan-skipping mechanism in which means are employed for setting the conveyer relatively forward or backward to register the pens with the pan-skip, disconnecting the pan 'conveyer from its driving power and firo mthe pan-skippirig mechanism as in the United States Letters Patent No. 1,180,030 to Thomas L. Green, issued April 18,

1916; and therefore any interpretation of the claims which would include such a construction is disclaimed.

* [Ofic'ialGazefl May 15, 1917.] 

